…seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” – Matthew 7:7
Many of us nowadays are becoming more hip to the idea of the Law of Attraction. The book “The Secret” put this phenomena into overdrive, and there are thousands of other books, websites, audio programs and teachers devoted to the topic. Obviously , the promise of gaining material and emotional abundance and manifesting a new reality simply by “intending” it is, umm…an “attractive” prospect, no pun “intended” (oops).
As far as I can tell, (and I hasten to add that I haven’t even bothered to read “The Secret”), many of the teachings out there use devices like “vision boards”, meditation, and creative visualization in an attempt to produce the vibrations necessary to attract the desired phenomena – like attracts like.
The banishment of doubt is another popular tool, and indeed is no doubt a necessary component. That said, the very focus on “thinking happy thoughts” can produce nothing, or even the opposite effect than what is desired. Even the thinking about the thinking will foil you! This is not easy stuff, although it should be; but since we came into this world and were forced to concentrate on learning to work this reality, we’ve forgotten how easy it really is. And perhaps that’s a part of the design…there’s no doubt that the re-learning process brings many life lessons.
One tool that I have not seen mentioned is what I call The Utterance. In the opening quote above, what do all three components have in common? Even a cursory analysis will show that each result is preceded by a concrete action. In order to receive, one must ask. In order to find, one must seek; and in order to have a door to a new life opened, we must knock. Action is required. Everything you want is swirling about you in a holding pattern, at the ready, just waiting for you to open the window for it to fly in. So, you may need to get up, walk to the window and open it. Indeed, you may even need to walk outside and stand in the street. It would be folly to try and catch the filmy pieces of dreams being whipped up by the winds of your desire; but if you make yourself available, when the time is right the right one will smack up against you and stick.
When you are in the process of setting an intention, once you have a clear idea of what you really want (and that’s a topic for another 20 blog posts), ask for it! You are trying to affect third-dimensional reality, and so adding 3D components to your intentions are required. Say it out loud. Your very breath passing through your vocal chords sets off vibrations that will resonate into reality – now you’ve made your intentions tangible. You’ve performed a physical act that will add to the power of your intentions in the frequency range where you want them to show up. Furthermore, put yourself into situations that will make it easier for that dream to find you. If your desires aren’t coming to you, go stand somewhere else. Take new action. Let’s face it…whatever you’re doing now isn’t working, now is it?
Who knows, maybe even a very slight shift in one direction or another will put you in the way of what you want. It seems to be working for me as I learn more. I welcome your thoughts, frustrations and successes – please comment if you’re so moved.
Michael
Thanks! Phew…it was a lot of work but worth it, I think. It’s the kind of thing you need to put a lot of effort into, but once it’s done all is good. It’s wonderful to be able to get back to posting. Facebook and the forums are great, but when you need to use more words, blogging is where it’s at.
BTW, I’m glad to see you’re back in the game yourself… missed your posts there for a while. 🙂
Right on, Anna. Ideally, we shift at all levels more or less simulataneously.
Forgot to say – Love your new look website!
Hi Michael,
I think you can be a dreamer and stay in the realm of thinking, but in many cases, as you say, thinking gets you nowhere. And I don’t think they really made that point very well in the film The Secret.
When I REALLY want something, I find that visualization is a very natural process, almost a by-product of wanting something very much, not the thing that makes it happen.
Great post.
Well, the word “facets” has a whole ‘nother meaning in Soul Realignment work. But you can call it whatever you like – whatever serves your vision. There is Absolute Truth…and it’s different for each of us.
Touche`, Michael — love the teacher’s joke. Kind of like the guy who prayed “God, if you make my garden grow, I promise to water it.” I am old as a post but a mere infant in my search for greater understanding.
Here’s an example of my simplistic but happy approach, an excerpt from my blog:
“Here’s the deal: even as a kid I’ve believed in mind over matter. Not because I had any evidence of this, but because it seemed to be such a wonderful idea! How great would it be to overcome obstacles with thought. In my idealistic and optimistic youth I just knew that this is possible, without caring that I didn’t know how to apply the principle. The real truth is, though: I applied it without even knowing what I was doing!! Hah! One day (as an adult) I woke up and saw the reality.
What the heck woke me up? Searching. Reading. Listening to people like Norman Vincent Peale. Denis Waitley. Wayne Dyer. Deepak Chopra. Mike Dooley. The Secret (movie). Hey, these are real people, famous people who make their living sharing their truth. When I discovered I was in the right ballpark with my optimism, I clutched these truths to my chest in a great loving stranglehold and my life changed.
Here’s a simple example: recently divorced, on a summer day, I was feeling very lonely. We’d just moved to a new city and hadn’t made friends yet. My children were spending the summer with their dad. I sat in my recliner, and I thought to myself as I drifted into a nap, I will not spend this day alone.
The doorbell woke me up several hours later. A neighbor from across the street, whom I’d not yet met, invited me to lunch. We sat for over three hours talking and getting to know one another. This friendship led to many, many good experiences. I choose to believe it was all because I had decided, and said to myself, I will not spend this day alone. I had made a simple declaration, and the Powers That Be said Okay, we’ll take care of it.”
Or, maybe as Jesus says in scripture — “be it done to you according to your faith.” You’re stretching my mind, and it feels good. I thank you for your response, I’m feeling quite engaged here. When you speak of dimensions, I think of facets, as a diamond. Any similarity there?
Jeanne,
Thanks so much for your comment!
I would have to say that within my (and many others’) framework and understanding, we exist in many different “dimensions”, or bands of frequency, if you will. “Thinking” and “feeling” are what I would consider as existing in our emotional and mental bodies – the 4th dimension. Our spirits exist beyond that, on the fifth level or dimension.
However, our physical bodies and experiences exist in the third dimension. To effectively manifest change, we need to put all three level of our existence in alignment with our intentions. For example, you might sit in your living room and wish desperately for a companion; but the Universe is much more likely to manifest your intention if you go out and make yourself available, wouldn’t you agree?
My teacher has a favorite joke: A guy prays every day…”Dear God, things are so hard for me! Please, oh please, could I please win the lottery so I won’t be so poor?”
He does this constantly night after night, always asking God to make his dream come true.
One night as he knelt by his bedside, a bright light appeared over his head and the room shook as a great voice boomed out, “Buy a ticket!” 🙂
Michael, found you via Anna Conlan’s blog. I’m so glad I clicked on your name to arrive at this post.
I’m very attracted to the Law of Attraction and all the “discoveries” that others are experiencing with it (lots of self-discovery going on). I watched The Secret movie. I’m saying YES to all of this. However, it seems to me (and the movie points this out) this is not new info. It’s old knowledge in a new dress. Old made new again. I enjoy it, I find it mostly refreshing, but the “old” way of expressing the same things isn’t forgotten either.
Your action discussion, and the examples you give, are as you say, simple, and logical. Go out and do something (ask, seek, knock). But
isn’t “thinking / feeling / intending ” an action as well? And if we ARE clear in our desires (not so easy sometimes) doesn’t the “thinking / feeling / intending” kind of get us moving into the required physical action of being in the right place, or speaking to the right person, or whatever else one might feel is “coincidence”?
OK I”m starting to ramble, so I apologize! Anyway, thanks for a great thought-provoking post! Time to go study the rest of your site, LOL!
Good comment, Virginia and good example. I think it has something to do with making the desire as real as possible.
Yup, simple is good.
Thank you for writing this, Michael. I do know this to be true from personal experience. Last year, during a prayer session with Jesus, I was moaning and bemoaning an issue that I was very disgruntled about. As soon as I was quiet enough to hear the “still, small voice within,” I immediately heard this response, “you don’t have it because you have not asked for it, just ask…” Whoa! I was stunned. I heard that response so clearly, I can still hear it right now. So, I asked, and yes, I did receive! I realize that it may sound so simplistic; however, sometimes we get so caught up in the wishing and visualizing, and the mere busy-ness of our minds, etc. etc. that we forget to keep it simple and just…ASK, seek, knock.
Thank you for reminding me of this today, Michael. Blessings.
Virginia